A Machine Learning Approach to Identify the Key Factors Affecting Correct Stream Selection and to Predict Suitable Subject Streams for Advanced Level Students in Sri Lanka


Authors : Hasara Abeywardhana; Dr. Lakmini Abeywardhane

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5cdj83x9

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/ycyjnmrz

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov1533

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : Education plays a vital role in shaping the economic growth and sustainable development of a nation. It is not only a measure of a country’s intellectual wealth but also a determining factor in its future progress. In Sri Lanka, education is provided free of charge by the government from primary school through university, ensuring equal access for all students. Within this framework, the General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) – G.C.E. (O/L) and the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) – G.C.E. (A/L) examinations represent two critical milestones in the academic journey. The G.C.E. (A/L) examination, in particular, serves as the gateway to higher education and university admission, marking a pivotal stage in shaping students’ academic and professional futures. At the end of the O/L stage, students are required to select a subjectstream such as Science, Arts, Commerce, or Technology to pursue during their A/L studies. This choice has a lasting impact, as it directly determines the student’s educational direction and career opportunities. However, many students make this crucial decision based on external influences, such as parental pressure, peer comparison, or limited guidance, rather than through a clear understanding of their academic strengths, personal interests, or long-term career aspirations. Consequently, this often leads to dissatisfaction, stream switching, or even discontinuation of studies. To address this issue, it is essential to adopt a data-driven approach that considers multiple factors, including students’ O/L examination performance, inborn talents, extracurricular activities, and preferred professional fields. This research introduces a machine learning-based model the Subject Stream Prediction System—designed to recommend the most suitable A/L subject stream for students. The proposed system not only predicts the optimal subject stream but also provides additional guidance by suggesting potential career paths, relevant educational qualifications, and technical skills aligned with the student’s profile. Four supervised machine learning algorithms K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Tree, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)were trained and evaluated to develop the predictive model, ensuring the highest possible accuracy and reliability.

Keywords : Machine Learning Algorithm, Subject Stream, Prediction System.

References :

  1. H. N. F. Al-Dossari, Z. A. M., A.-Q., and Others, “A machine learning approach to career path choice for information technology graduates,” Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 2020.
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  5. M. Department of Census and Statistics, Statistical Pocket Book 2024. Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka, 2024.
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  8. J. Kim and L. K. Kim, “Determinants of academic stream choice among korean secondary students: An empirical study on performance, interest and career alignment,” Korean Journal of Educational Research, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 223–240, 2023.
  9. P. E. Illukkumbura, “Factors affecting students’ selection of g.c.e. advanced level science subjects: A case study of sinhala medium students in nuwara-eliya education zone,” Master’s thesis, University of Peradeniya, 2016.
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Education plays a vital role in shaping the economic growth and sustainable development of a nation. It is not only a measure of a country’s intellectual wealth but also a determining factor in its future progress. In Sri Lanka, education is provided free of charge by the government from primary school through university, ensuring equal access for all students. Within this framework, the General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) – G.C.E. (O/L) and the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) – G.C.E. (A/L) examinations represent two critical milestones in the academic journey. The G.C.E. (A/L) examination, in particular, serves as the gateway to higher education and university admission, marking a pivotal stage in shaping students’ academic and professional futures. At the end of the O/L stage, students are required to select a subjectstream such as Science, Arts, Commerce, or Technology to pursue during their A/L studies. This choice has a lasting impact, as it directly determines the student’s educational direction and career opportunities. However, many students make this crucial decision based on external influences, such as parental pressure, peer comparison, or limited guidance, rather than through a clear understanding of their academic strengths, personal interests, or long-term career aspirations. Consequently, this often leads to dissatisfaction, stream switching, or even discontinuation of studies. To address this issue, it is essential to adopt a data-driven approach that considers multiple factors, including students’ O/L examination performance, inborn talents, extracurricular activities, and preferred professional fields. This research introduces a machine learning-based model the Subject Stream Prediction System—designed to recommend the most suitable A/L subject stream for students. The proposed system not only predicts the optimal subject stream but also provides additional guidance by suggesting potential career paths, relevant educational qualifications, and technical skills aligned with the student’s profile. Four supervised machine learning algorithms K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Tree, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine (SVM)were trained and evaluated to develop the predictive model, ensuring the highest possible accuracy and reliability.

Keywords : Machine Learning Algorithm, Subject Stream, Prediction System.

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Paper Submission Last Date
31 - January - 2026

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